MORE USDA Grants Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced
Summary
Expand grant access for counties where most land is federally owned. The bill would define High-Density Public Land Counties, lower local match requirements, boost technical help, and give application priority to local and Tribal governments in those counties.
Show full summary
- Local and Tribal governments in qualifying counties would get a 50% reduction in local matching requirements for listed USDA rural grant programs and extra technical assistance during application periods.
- A county would qualify as a High-Density Public Land County if its population does not exceed 100,000 and more than 50% of its land is owned or managed by the Federal Government.
- The Secretary of Agriculture would be required to prioritize HDPLC applicants who have not received qualifying grant support in the prior 10 years and may relax barriers such as scoring criteria, partnership rules, or cash-on-hand requirements to improve access; qualifying programs named include Rural Business Development, Community Facilities, Telemedicine and Distance Learning, Community Connect, ReConnect, and other Rural Development or energy grant authorities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More grant help for public land counties
If enacted, the bill would create a "High-Density Public Land County" label. That label would apply to counties with no more than 100,000 people and more than 50% federal land. Applicants in those counties would have local matching fund requirements cut by 50% for qualifying USDA grants. The Agriculture Secretary would provide extra technical help on request before and during application periods. Applicants in those counties who have not received qualifying support in the last 10 years would get approval priority, and Tribal governments may get extra priority. The Secretary could also relax scoring, partner, cash-on-hand, or complex application rules to remove barriers.
Which USDA grants qualify
If enacted, the bill would define what counts as a "qualifying grant program." The list would name several rural programs (for example, Rural Business Development, Community Facilities, Economic Impact Initiative, Telemedicine and Distance Learning, Community Connect, and the ReConnect broadband pilot). It would also let discretionary grant programs from the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, Rural Utilities Service, or other USDA rural development or energy grant programs count if they award to counties, local governments, or Tribal governments. This definition would take effect upon enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 7/31/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/31/2025
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 7/31/2025
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 7/31/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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